Installing shorty headers

[17RamDude]

I have 17 Ram with 5.7L and my exhaust bolts are broken on both sides in the back. I bought some shorty headers to replace exhaust manifolds. Do I need to reinstall heat shields? Also I don't want to wrap the headers!

 

[rocket]

They were there for a reason. I would. The main thing is using the upgraded bolts.

 

[rocket]

Both sides. Geeeesh. You musta pissed someone off on the planet karma

 

[danielmid]

Heat shields won't generally go back on since they use studs from the factory manifold bolts that you aren't reusing. Don't upgrade the hardware beyond what comes with the new headers, they are low torque and you want the bolts to break if something happens later instead of pulling threads out of the heads.

I didn't wrap but I did pay to have them ceramic coated, worth the cost and hassle. Keep as much heat out of the engine bay and in the exhaust as possible.